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Housebuilder wants wind of change over energy

Local authorities must consider the wider picture in encouraging environmentally friendly house building, which could mean permitting housebuilders to help fund energy projects where they will be most effective rather than on-site, reports Linden Homes.

Recent changes to central and local government policies plus those to UK building regulations are beginning to demand renewable energy generation within new developments, in order to reach national energy targets and reduce carbon emissions.

Encouraged by central government, over 100 local authorities including Merton, Croydon and Woking demand that developers and housebuilders generate a specified percentage of the energy used by the development from renewable sources.

Developers currently meet this challenge through the use of solar panels, positive ventilation systems and even wind turbines located on site, but Linden Homes believes it would be more effective to help finance dedicated renewable energy projects in more suitable locations.

Philip Davies, chief executive of Linden Homes commented: "Local authorities are insisting that housebuilders generate renewable energy on housing developments which are often being built on brownfield land in towns and cities, but they offering little guidance on how to go about this."

"Developers are heading off in different directions trying to become experts on renewable energy in conditions which are not ideal."

"Surely this money would be better spent if the housebuilders instead paid a premium to an energy provider such as Powergen for every unit built, which could then be invested in dedicated renewable energy projects in more suitable locations. It makes sense to have wind turbines where the wind blows and solar energy projects where the sun shines."

Off-site energy projects would still make each home accountable for its carbon emissions, just not at the same location. New homes currently use a number of environmentally friendly new home building measures including high standards of insulation, double-glazing and energy-efficient appliances. Linden Homes also uses solar panels and positive ventilation systems to heat homes on several of its developments, including Fusion in Woking, reducing dependency on traditional boilers.

The UK currently generates 2.8% of its energy from renewable sources, and house building has a major part to play in reaching the government targets of 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020.